Tempo-regulator and rewinding mechanism for piano-players.



A. A. STEINHILBER.

TEMPO REGULATOR AND REWINDING MECHANISM FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICNTION FILED OCT-H.191].

Patented June 1, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., FHKJTW-LVTHO.A WASHINGIUN. D. C.

, A. A. STEINHILBER.

TEMPO REGULATOR AND REWINDING MECHANISM FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 11. I91].

1 1 4 1 ,283 E Patented June 1, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-L|THO-. WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. A. STEINHILBER.

TEMPO REGULATOR AND REWINDING MECHANISM FOR PiANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l1, 19H.

Patented June 1, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

7H? NOIEIS PETERS 60., FHO70 LITHO.. WASHINGTON. C.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF A. STEINHILBER, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ARTISTAPIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed October 11, 1911. Serial No. 653,983.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AnoLF A. STEINHIL- acitizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island. in the county ofRock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tempo- Regulators and Rewinding Mechanism forPiano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tempo regulators and rewindingmechanism for mechanical musical instruments particularly of the type inwhich there is employed a pneumatic motor operated by exhausting the airtherefrom and which exhaust mechanism is also connected with the windchest for exhausting the latter, and one of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character, havingmeans whereby the exhaust may be cut off from the wind chest anddirected entirely to the motor, to increase the speed of operation ofthe latter and at the same time prevent the operation of the partscontrolled by the suction in the wind chest.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of this classhaving means where by the record may be advanced or rewound withoutactuating the note sounding instrumentalities.

A further object is to provide an improved. apparatus of this classwhich will be simple, durable and cheap in construction and effectiveand efficient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as ill appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings, showing an embodiment of theinvention and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts brokenaway, of an improved apparatus of this class constructed in accordancewith the principles of this invention. Fig. 1 is a view of detail,partly in section. Fig. 2- is a detailed sectional view taken on line 22Fig. 3. Fig. 3, is a view partly in elevation, partly in section, andwith parts broken away of the governor or controller mechanism. Fig. 4-is a detailed sectional view on line ll-- Fig. "3 Fig. 5 is a detailedsectional view taken on line 55, Fig. -3. Fig. 6- is a. top plan view ofthe valve box for controlling the suction in the wind chest. Fig. 7 is asectional view on lines 7-7-, Fig. 6. Fig. -8 is a front elevation ofFig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detailed view taken on line -99, Fig. -1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the presentexemplification of this invention, the numeral 10 desig nates the windchest which is arranged in any suitable manner within the casing of theinstrument, a portion of which latter being indicated in Fig. -1-, andto which is connected the pneumatics 10 which latter operate thenote-sounding instrumentalities desi gna-ted generally by the referencenumeral 10", and which pneumatics are connected with the tracker board12 by the tubes 10 in a manner well known in devices of this character.

Supported by the wind chest in any suitable or convenient manner is aframe designated generally by the reference numeral -11- and in thisframe is arranged the tracker board 12 on one side of which is arrangedthe record spool 13, while the record spool 14l is arranged on theopposite side of the tracker board. the latter spool being adapted toreceive the record sheet -15 as it passes over the tracker board -1:2from the roll 13-.

The motor for feeding the record sheet is designated generally by thereference numeral 16-. This motor is of the pneumatic type and embodiesa crank shaft l.7- and controlling valves 18-. The

crank shaft is preferably arranged above the motor as shown and isjournaled in suitable bearings, one end of the shaft being detachablyconnected with a stub shaft -19-, journaled preferably in asupplementary frame 20 supported by the frame -11-. Connected with thisstub shaft -19* is an elongated pinion gear -21, with which a travelinggear -22 measures. This gear 22- is mounted upon a shaft -23 which isconnected in any suitable manner with the shaft of the spool -14.

The gear is adapted to be shifted longitudinally on the shaft 23preferably by means of a lever 24- pivoted intermediate its ends as at-25- with one end connected with a collar -26- secured to the gear 22for rotation therewith. The gear -22 is provided with a lateral projection or pin 26 which is adapted to enter a recess in a collar 27which latter is secured to the shaft for rotation therewith. so thatwhen the projection --2G is seated within the aperture within the collarand the gear 22 rotated, the shaft 23 together with the spool 1e' willalso be rotated to draw the record from the spool -13- on to the spool14. Journal d in the supplementary frame -:20 is another shai'i't -28 towhich is secured a sprocket wheel -i29, this sprocket wheel is connectedby means of a sprocket chain 30 with another sprocket wheel on the shaft-3l, which la ter is detachably connected as at -32 with a trunnion onthe spool 13. The other trunnion of the spool -18 is journaled insuitable bearing, -33, and an elastic member -34 is provided whichengages the end of the bearing -33 and tends normally to hold the spool-l3 in position.

@n the shaft -.Z8, is a gear 35 which is connected with the sprocket-2-) for rotation therewith and is so arranged with respect to the gear2f2, that the latter may be moved into and out of mesh therewith. Thepinion -21 however, is of such a length that the gear 22 in any of itspositions will always remain in mesh therewith. Thus it will be seenthat when the gear 2:. is moved out of mesh with the gear -35- *nd theprojection is seated in the recess in the collar -27, the spool -1 lwill be connected with the motor shaft -17 t irough the me dium oi"- thepinion -2l and gear 22 in this position the spool 13 will bedisconnected from the motor and when the motor is operated the recordsheet 15-- will be drawn across the tracker board -1 and on to the spool14 Should the gear 22 be shifted so that it will mesh with the gear 35-,then the spool 1 lwill be disconnected f om the motor shaft and thespool -l3 will be connected with the motor to be operated therebythrough the medium of the sprocket chain 36. to rotate the roller -l3and thereby rewind the record sheet -l5 back on to the spool 13.

The gear -22 is shifted manually at the wil of the operator and for thispurpose there is provided an operating lever 36-, which is arranged in aconvenient position for the operator, preferably at the front and centerof the instrument. This lever 36- is pivotally supported. preferahlyintermediate its ends as at 37- and one end is connected by means of alink to an arm -3S on a rock shaft -40. Another arm al on the rock shaftis connected by means of a link i to one arm of a bell crank lever l3which latter is pivotally supported as at l l-. To the other arm of thebell crank r3- is connected a slide bar or rod l-5 which is supportedfor such movement in suitable bearings and arranged on this slide barare spaced arms or projections 46 t7-, between which the free extremity%l8 of the lever 2 lprojects. These arms or projections al6 --i7 are sospaced from each other that when the bar or rod is moved longitudinallyin one direction or the other by the manipulation of the lever 86 theywill respectively engage the extremity l-8- of the lever to rock thelatter about its point of pivotal support 25- and thereby shift the gearin the manner already described. These arms i6 l7- are also so spacedfrom each other as to permit movement of the rod i5- without engagingthe lever -2 i for a purpose as will be set forth. An elastic member 49is provided. one end of which is connected with the lever 4-8 and theother end is anchored to a suitable fixed support and tends normally tomo e the member in a direction to shift the gear 22 to lock the spool 14for rotation by the motor to advance the record. and a stop 50-, is alsopro vided for lim ting the movement of the leer under the influence ofthe elastic member -4-9.

The note soundins instrumentalities are connected in the ordinary andusual manner (and therefore not necessary to illustrate with the windchest 10 and also with the a ertures in the tracker board 12- and inorder therefore to prevent the operation of these instrumentalities, andconsequently the sounding of the notes durino; the rewinding of therecord -15, there is provided valve mechanisms which cut oil the suctionfrom the wind chest durinn this rewindinaoperation. his valve mechanismembodies a housing designated generally by the reference numeral -51which is connected or has communication with the wind chest in anysuitable manner so that the air will be exhausted from the wind chestthrough this housing by means of a tubular member -52 which is connectedwith the outlet 53- of the housing and also with the equalizer of one ofthe pumper bellows This housing 52 is provided with a valve seat 54intermediate the inlet and the outlet of the housing and a valve 55 isprovided which cooperates with the valve seat. Then the valve is movedoii" its seat into the position shown in Figs. 6- and 8-, the tubularmember 52- will be connected with the wind chest to exhaust the latterthe extension 56 which is connected with the slide bar and also with acrankarm 57 on a rock shaft -58 to which latter the valve 55- isconnected. This crank arm -57 is adjustably connected with the rockshaft 58 by means of a suitable fastening device 59 so that the crankarm may be adjusted to any suitable position on the shaft.

The extension 56 is flexibly connected with the crank arm 57 through themedium of a loop 60- (see particularly Fig. through which loop a pin -61on the crank arm 57 passes and. the length of the extension 56- is suchthat when the lever --3(3 is moved to the right in l, to cause the gear-Q2- to connect the spool 14 with the motor for moving the record sheetand playing the instrument or in playing position, the movement of thebar 4-.5* and extension 56-, will result in the extremity of the loop 60engaging the pin 61- to rock the shaft 58-- and thereby unseat or openthe valve --55 It is necessary in the playing position that the valve 55be held open, because of the pressure or suction which operates on theleft hand side of the valve (Fig. and which tends normally to close thevalve. By the provision of the loop "GO- the lever may be moved intoupright or intermediate position or to a osition Jvhich will permit thevalve to close by the suction and also to per; the le er to be movedinto a 45 position to eli'ect a revvinding of the record wit out openingthe valve and thus nt the operation of the note sounding rumei'italitiesduring the rewinding opation. l asmuch as the suction is on the leftside or the valve (Fig. it would close were it not for the fact that itis held open by the loop 60 of the rod 56 engaging the pin 61. l it isdesirable to hold this en tie shunt passage from valve open properlyopened. This shunt pass smarter described, when open, connects the motordirectly with the pumpers. Thus it may be used as an auxfhry to increasethe speed of the motor during portions of the playing operation, and ofcourse the valve must be open under this condition The speed of themotor during the playing ope ation or the tempo is controlled orregulated through the medium of governor mechanism which will now bedescribed, reference being had particularly to Figs. 2 to -5.

Mounted upon a suitable fixed support preferably the wind chest 10 is ahousing designated generally by the reference numeral G2 which housingis provided with a chamber 63- having communication as at 64 with theexhaust passage of the mot-or 16, and this chamber 63 is connected bymeans of a passage 6'i with a governor pneumatic -65 through the passage-66- of the pneumatic which communicates with the passage 6l. A slidevalve 67 is mounted to move in suitable guides -68- to control thepassage -6i-- and through the manipulation of this valve 67 the passage-64@ may be opened to a greater or less extent and inasmuch as thesuction from the motor, during the playing operation. is through thispassage 6 r-, it will be manifested the speed of the motor may becontrolled by the manipulation of this valve 67 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The pneumatic -65---- embodies a movable element or member ---69 whichlatter is adapted to be moved in one direction to expand the pneumatic,preferably by means of an elastic member -Tr one end of which isconnected to an arm or extension --7 1- projecting beyond the smallerend of the pneumatic and which arm is connected with the movable memberof the pneumatic and th other end of the elastic member is anchored to asuitable fixed support. This elastic member tends normally to expand thepneumatic and when the pneumatic is collapsed it is against the actionor tension of this elastic member. The pneumatic also h..s communicationwith a suction or exhaust pipe which latter leads to the equalizer ofone of the pumpor bellows 72"- and also communicates with a passage -73-which latter has communication with a pas sage -T4 leading through thehousing --62-- out of communication with the chamber -63. The passage74.- has communication with the pneumatic through the medium of thepassage 7 and a valve -7 s provided for con lling the pas sage 75 Thisvalve --i 18 arranged to be seated against the suction in the pipe 72and 1s opened automatlcally by the movement of the movable member -69 vand for this purpose there is provided a lever 77- which is fulcrumed asat TS-, one end of the lever is suitably connected with the stem of thevalve -76 and the other end of the le fer is arranged adjacent theprojection --79 carried by the movable member -69 of the pneumatic. Thisprojection 79- is normally held out of contact with the lever --7"- whenthe pn eu matic 65 is open or expanded, so that the gun lapsed, theprojection 79- engages the lever '77 to seat or close the valve. T heiroject-ion 79- is connected with the slide 80 which is adjustablyconnected with the movable member -69 so that the projection may beadjusted, with respect to the fulcrum of the lever --7'7- and therebyvary the time of operation for closing of the valve *?6. The passage lalso has communication with the chamber 73 through the n'iedium of thepassage 8land a valve 82 is provided for normally closing this passage-8lto cut oil communication of the passage "Z l--with the chamber 73.

The rock shaft -83 is ir o with the valve 82 in an ible main nor topermit the pressure or suction to seat the valve -82-- closely. hisconnection may be formed in any suitable manner. A sinple and eflicientmanner comprises a. stoning device 8i-- which is threaded at 85 into thevalve -82 and is ovided with an enlarged ortion 8"- roje rocting into anaperture -8T in duced portion 88* of an arm of the rock shaft -8 Whenthis valve closed, and suction is created through the pipe ?2-, and thevalve --G7- is ad justed to open the passage -6t, the di rection of theair will be fr in the motor through tie passage l-- into the chamber-68.

Air will pass from the chamber into the pneumatic 5 through the ll henthe suction acting begins collapse the pneumatic -li5 the valve 76 willbe correspondingly adjusted and the air will pass iron thepneumaticthrough the -'Z5- into the passage *7 l from the passage Z linto the passage -73-- and out through the pine 7:2 This is the courseof the air duri the playing operation. H the passage -"-l-is wide open,the motor will be running at its highest speed and therefore in order tocontrol the speed of the motor all that is necessary is to adjust thevalve -76-. This is accomplished manually and for this purpose there isprovided second 0 crating lever 89 which is arranged preferably adjacentthe lever -3t and this lever -8flis fulcrumed as at 90- intermediateits. ends.

One end of the lever is connected by means of a link 9l with an arm on aroclr shaft 9=2 The other arm of the rock shaft is connected by means ofa link 93 with one arm of a bell crank lever -9 l, the latter beingfulcrumed as 95 The other arm of the bell crank is connected by means ofa connection 9-5 with the tempo indicating finger 97- ti to which ismovable over the tempo index -98.

Pivotally mounted preferably upon one wall of the housing62 is a crank99 to which is connected an arm -l00- having a bifurcated extremity 101into which bifurcation a pin -10:2- on the connection -96- projects. Theother end of the crank 99 projects into a recess --103 on the slidevalve 6Z so that when the crank 99 is rocked about this point of pivotalsupport, the valve 67 will be moved in its guides to open or close thepassage 6-l at the will of the operator and according to the directionof movement of the valve. Thus when the lever S9 is manipulated, thebell crank lever 9-l will be rocked and this rocking move ment of thebell crank will rock the crank -99- moving the valve 67 and also thetempo indicating finger 97.

During the playing operation, as has been before stated, the valve 82 isclosed and the air circulates through the governor in a tortuous passageout of the pipe -72. l fhen it is desired to rewind the record on to thespool 13-, and to operate the motors 16- as rapidly as possible, it isadvisable to establish a direct communication of the air from the motoraround the governor pneumatic 65 and through the chamber 53 to the pipe-72. This is accomplished by opening the valve 82- and when opened theair will seek the shor est passage to the pipe -72 even though thepassage 64l is open. When the valve 8:'2 is opened, the air will passdirectly from the chamber -63- through the passage 81 into the passage78 and thence out through the pipe 'Z2. In order therefore to open thisvalve -82- simultaneously with the shifting of the gear -22, to arewinding position, there is provided on the shaft 83 a projecting arm-l04l which extends between two projections 105-, -10\3, connected withthe slide bar 4:5 and which projections -105 106 are adapted to engageand move the arm -10? to rock it in one direction or the other to openor close the valve 82- according to the direction of movement of the rod-4.-5.

It is thought that the operation of this improved apparatus will beclearly understood from the foregoing description, but briefly stated itis as follows: W hen the lever 89 is shifted to the right (Fig. 1-) theconnection 96 is caused to move horizontally in the same directionthrough the medium of the intermediate connecting mechanism. Themovement of this connection -96 by reason of the pin -102 projectinginto the bifurcated extremity 101 of the arm 100, will move the valve 67in the opposite direction. This valve opens and closes the passage 64which regulates the passage of the air from the motor to the pumpers.When the passage 64 is opened to its fullest extent the motor has itsgreatest speed and the speed of the motor is reduced by moving the lever89-- in the opposite direction, thus moving the valve 67- to the right(Fig. 3-) to reduce the area of this passage. At the same time the tempofinger or indicator 97 will be correspondingly adjusted with respect tothe index 98-. By throwing the top of the lever 36 to the extreme left,(Fig. -1-) the slide bar -45- and connection 56 will be shifted, the lugor projection -106 on the slide 45- will engage the arm -104 to rock theshaft -83- and open the valve -S2- at the same time the loop -60 withthe connection 56 will permit the valve 55 to close and thereby shut offsuction in the wind chest. lVith the valve -82 wide open, the motor willbe running at its highest speed inasmuch as the suction will be aroundthe governor. At the same time, or at the time when this lug -106 opensthe valve -84, the lug l6 will engagethe extremity -48 of the lever -2ito shift the latter and thereby move the gear 22 into mesh with the gear-35 which will connect the spool 13 with the motor shaft therebyeffecting a rewinding of the record from the spool -1-lto the spool 13.lVhen the lever -36 is drawn to the extreme right hand position (Fig. 1)the lug 105 will engage the arm 10- l to close the valve -8'2 at thesame time the arm 4l7 on the slide 45- will engage the extremity -48 ofthe lever 24- to shift the gear 22 out of mesh with the gear -35 andinto a position to connect the spool 1 1 with the motor shaft. The loop-60- on the connection 56- will during this movement of the slide -45open the valve 55- to permit the air to be drawn from the wind chest. Inthe event that it is desired to advance the record sheet withoutactuating the note sounding instrumentalities the lever 36- may be movedto an approximately upright or intermediate position which will causethe slide 45 and the connection -56- to move in the same direction. Thismovement of the slide -45 will cause the projection -106 to engage thearm -104 to partially open the valve 82, thus allowing an additionalpassage for the air from the motor and the chamber -63-, to produce amore rapid movement of the motor. During this operation or adjustment ofthe slide 45, the arm or projection 46 thereon moves toward but does notengage the extremity 48 of the lever -24 and the latter will be held inthis position by the elastic member 49, thus leaving the mechanism inposition for advancing the record sheet over the tracker board to bewound on the spool 14. The movement of the connection 56 to the leftpermits the valve 55- to close, thus shutting off communica tion betweenthe wind chest and the pump era with the result that the record sheetwill move forwardly but the note sounding instrumentalities will not beactuated obviously. The front wall of the chamber -68 may be removablysecured in position thereby permitting ready access to the interior ofthe mechanism housed therein without dismantling the other parts.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a tempo regulator, the combination of a motor, air exhaustingmeans connected with the motor and embodying a passage, a governorpneumatic arranged in the passage and through which the air passes,means controlled by the action of the pneumatic for controlling thepassage, means for varying the time of operation of the last said meansrelative to the movement of said pneumatic, a regulator valve for alsocontrolling the passage, means for controlling the last said valve, ashunt passage for the air from the motor around said pneumat c, andmeans for controlling said shunt passage.

2. In a tempo regulator, the combination of a motor, air exhaustingmeans connected with the motor and embodying a passage, a pneumatic arrnged in said pas. ge and through which the air passes, said pneumaticembodying a movable member, means connected with said member and tendingnormally to expand the pneumatic, a valve controlled by said movablemember and adapted to close the passage, means whereby the movement ofsaid member to expand the pneumatic will control the valve, means forvarying the time of the opening of said 'alve relative to the movementof said member, means for controlling the passage of air into thepneumatic, a shunt passage for the air around the pneumatic, and meansfor controlling the shunt passage.

3. In a tempo regulator, the combination of a motor, air exhaustingmeans therefor embodying a passage for the air, a collapsible pneumaticin the passage and through which the air passes, said pneumaticembodying a movable member, a valve for controlling the passage,adjustable means between the valve and movable member of the pneumatic,whereby the movement of said member will actuate the valve, meanstending normally to expand the pneumatic, a shunt passage for the airfrom the motor around the pneumatic and connected with the first saidpassage, and a manually con trolled valve for connecting anddisconnecting the said passages.

6 1,1 ii,ass

4. In a tempo regulator, the combination of a motor, air exhaustingmeans therefor embodying a passage for the air, a collapsible pneumaticin the passage and through which the air passes, said pneumaticembodying a movable member, a valve for controlling the passage, anadjustable means between the valve and movable member of the pneumatic,whereby the movement of said member will actuate the valve, meanstending normally to expand the pneumatic, a shunt passage for the airfrom the motor around the pneumatic and connected with the first saidpassage, a manually controlled valve for connecting and disconnectingthe said. passages, and a third valve, the latte being adapted tocontrol the passage 01" the air into the pneumatic.

5. In a tempo regulator, the combination of a motor, air exhaustingmeans therefor embodying a passage for the air, a collapsiblc pneumaticin the passage and through which the air passes, said pneumaticembodying a movable member, a valve for controlling the passage,adjustable means between the valve and movable member oil the pneumatic,whereby the movement of said u ember will actuate the valve, meanstendmg normally to expand the pneumatic, a shunt passage for the airfrom the motor around the pneumatic and connected with the first saidpassage, a manually controlled alve for connecting and disconnecting thesad passages, a third valve, the latter being adapted control thepassage of the air into the pneumatic, and manual means for controllingthe last said valve at will.

6. tempo regulator embodying in coml'JflPtIO'fl an air exhaust passage,a collapsible matic arranged in the passage and through which pneumaticthe air passes, sai d pneumatic embodying a movable memher, a valve forclosing the passage, an actu ating lever for the valve arranged withinthe pneumatic and connected with the valve, operated by the movablemember of the pneumatic adapted to engage the lever to operate the sameto control the valve, and means for expanding the pneumatic.

7. A tempo regulator embodying in combination an air exhaust passage, 21collapsible pneumatic arranged in the passage and tl'irough whichpneumatic the air passes, said pneumatic embodying a movable her, avalve for closing the passage, an actuating lever for the valve arrangedWithin the pneumatic and connected with the valve, means adjustablysupported by the movable member or" the pneumatic, adapted to engage thelever to operate the same tocontrol the valve, and means for expandingthe pneumatic.

S. A tempo re ulator embodying in combination an air exhaust passage, acollapsible pneumatic arranged in the passage and through whichpneumatic the air passes, said pneumatic embodying a movable mem her, avalve for closing the passage, an actu' ating lever arranged andfulcrumed within the pneumatic, and connected with the valve foractuating the latter, and means carried by the movable member of thepneumatic and adjustable with respect thereto toward and away from thefulcrum of the lever for operating the lever and for varying the time ofactuation of the valve thereby.

9. A tempo regulator embodying in combination an air exhaust passage, acollapsible pneumatic arranged in the passage and through whichpneumatic tie air passes, said pneumatic embodying a movable men her, avalve for closing the passage, an actuating lever arranged and fulcrumedwithin the pneumatic, and connected with the valve for actuating thelatter, means carried by the movable member of the pneumatic andadjustable with respect thereto to nerd and away from the fulcrum of thelever for operating the lever and for varying the time of actuation ofthe valve thereby, and means tending normally to expand the pneumatic tooperate the valve to control said passage.

In testimony wiereof l have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this lth day of October, A. D.1911.

ADOLF A. STEINHILBER.

Witnesses:

l Vu. THOMPSON, W. H. CoLLINs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

